UN Agencies in Serbia express their concern over a further deterioration of the situation of refugees and migrants in the North of the Serbia in proximity to its border with Hungary.
As a result of new legislative measures in Hungary, which took effect on 5 July, the number of refugees and migrants on the Serbian side of the border has doubled over the last few days to above 1,300 majority of them women and children. While several hundred are sheltered by the Government of Serbia in the Refugee Aid Point near Subotica, close to 800 asylum-seekers are waiting in the open on Serbian territory outside the Hungarian “transit zone” near Horgos I border-crossing, where overall conditions, particularly lack of shelter, health and sanitation represent major challenges. UN agencies and NGOs stepped up their assistance to the Government of Serbia by providing more food, water, medical and other aid.
Seeking asylum is a basic human right and according to international law an asylum-seeker should be granted access to the territory of the country where asylum is sought. However on 6 July over 120 asylum-seekers reported to authorities, the UN and partners that they were denied access to asylum procedures in Hungary and were instead pushed-back into Serbia outside re-admission or return procedures.
The UN in Serbia warns that these developments will further aggravate the situation in Serbia outside the Hungarian “transit zones” of Horgos (Roszke) and Kelebija (Tompa) where currently only 30 asylum-seekers have been allowed to enter EU territory each day, while hundreds more have had to wait for weeks out in the open in often desperate and inhumane conditions.
UN Agencies note that increased restrictive measures that ignore proper asylum procedures could encourage refugees and asylum-seekers to seek more dangerous irregular routes into Europe exposing them to ruthless smugglers. Unaccompanied children are especially at risk.
The UN in Serbia will continue supporting the Governement of Serbia in addressing the needs of refugees and migrants in a humane manner and in line with the country’s international obligations.
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Contact:
Aleksandra Stamenković, UNCT Communications Expert, m: 063 302 831, t: 011 415 5314
e: [email protected]. This press release is also published at: www.rs.one.un.org
Additional information: www.rs.one.un.org, www.facebook.com/UNCTSerbia i @UNCT_Serbia
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